How to perform as if someone is observing

Jeffrey L. Page is a director in opera and theater, encompassing both classic and modern compositions, as well as an educator in Harvard’s Theater, Dance & Media program. He co-directed the revival of the musical “1776” and has received an MTV Video Music Award for his collaborations with Beyoncé.

Everyone yearns to be acknowledged.

Ralph Ellison penned a novel titled “Invisible Man,” primarily centered on African Americans. Throughout my life, I often find myself feeling invisible, or I may have to render myself invisible to avoid causing disruption or disturbing the status quo. I must become unseen to conform to societal expectations. However, dance revolves around visibility. How can the message I convey through my body be interpreted like literature? I believe dance can achieve this. Perform as though we’re all observing. What would you like us to perceive?

Envision writing an essay. You might spend hours perfecting a sentence, striving to organize your thoughts. The instant you discover that perfect combination of words, it feels like, ‘Yes, there it is. That’s the perfect sentence. That’s the paragraph. That’s the narrative.’ That experience mirrors the transition from a non-dancing individual to a dancing one. It’s liberating. It’s akin to tapping into a vast source of knowledge that has been concealed.

In Mali, located in West Africa, there exists a tradition referred to as djine foly. Many may have heard of djinn, the mystical or spiritual beings in Islamic culture, often recognized as genies. These djinn also play a significant role in Malian culture. Djine foly translates to the dancing realm of the djinn. The dancers immerse themselves into a trance-like experience. Upon reaching this state of trance, they encounter joy. An overwhelming surge of emotion envelops them. In the Black community, this phenomenon is referred to as catching the holy ghost. It embodies a spiritual essence. The manner in which we dance freely and intentionally is a spiritual occurrence.

Students enrolled in my classes appreciate the experience as I encourage exuberance, leading them to shed the burdens that weigh heavily on them. At times, one must yell to liberate oneself in order to unwind! No one truly cares how you appear! Just dance!

Occasionally, our analytical minds are so rigid and unyielding that, darling, a mere shout might be necessary to liberate that logical mind so I can discover that trance and connect with my djinn.

— As narrated to Sy Boles, Harvard Staff Writer